The autumn foliage in Sapporo, Otaru and other areas in central Hokkaido can be easily enjoyed as part of a trip as well as a day trip due to convenient transportation! Here are 10 recommended spots in the central Hokkaido area that are easily accessible from the city center for a drive or weekend excursion.

Autumn foliage viewing season in the Dao area: October 11 to late October (as of September 6)

Jozankei Onsen is located about an hour's drive from Sapporo Station. The rich forests and valleys surrounding the hot spring resort, dotted with beautiful bridges, attract many tourists during the fall foliage season. It is recommended to stroll along the bright red suspension bridge "Futami Suspension Bridge," which is the symbol of Jozankei Onsen Town, to view the autumn leaves.

Ginkgo trees line the Hokkaido University campus. Fifty meters north of Ohno Pond, 70 ginkgo trees are planted in a row along Kita 13-jo Street for about 380 meters toward the east. The bright green tunnels of summer change to a warm golden color in autumn, delighting the eyes of visitors.

Toyohirakyo Gorge is one of the most popular recreational spots in Sapporo, with its magnificent natural scenery of lakes and greenery around the Toyohirakyo Dam, which is used for flood control of the Toyohira River. It is especially beautiful during the season of autumn leaves, and has been selected as one of the "100 best water source forests" and "100 best dammed lakes" by the Forestry Agency. We recommend viewing the autumn leaves in combination with the dam's dynamic sightseeing discharge.

The remains of an explosive crater created by the eruptive activity of Mt. A variety of hot springs gush out from here at a rate of 10,000 tons per day, supplying hot spring water to hotels and inns in the hot spring resort area. The numerous bubbling and boiling hot springs along the valley are the origin of the name "Oni-no-Inhabited-Jigoku (Hell where demons dwell). Don't miss Jigokudani when it burns red with autumn leaves in fall.

Lake Toya is the center of Shikotsu Toya National Park and the third largest caldera lake in Japan. Surrounded by various trees, visitors can enjoy different views depending on their position and the season. The four islands in the center of the lake are collectively called Nakajima, and the view of Nakajima and the blue lake through the autumn leaves is spectacular.

Eniwa Valley is located on the Larmanai River, a tributary of the Fishery River. The area is equipped with various facilities such as waterfalls and parks. There are three unique waterfalls such as Shirafan Falls, Lalmanai Falls, and Sandan Falls, as well as Eniwa Lake Free Plaza with its vast lawn and Sakura Park with its beautiful cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in fall.

Located on a hill in the northern part of Otaru City, this vast park covers an area of 19.7 hectares. There are approximately 230 chestnut trees in the park, which is said to be the northern limit of natural forests. In spring, the park is crowded with people as a cherry blossom and azalea viewing spot, and in fall, it is a popular place for strolling and hiking, such as picking up chestnuts and autumn leaves.

Located on a plateau more than 750 m above sea level, this is a popular spot for hikers and other visitors with many lakes and wetlands, including "Shinsen-numa," the most beautiful and mysterious swamp in the Niseko mountain range. It is a representative natural swamp of Kyowa Town where visitors can enjoy the changing seasons, and is also crowded with visitors during the autumn foliage season.

Iwaonupuri is an active volcano located between Kutchan Town and Ranketsu Town, and is one of the Niseko mountain range that includes Niseko Annupuri. In autumn, the contrast of red, yellow, and green leaves makes for a spectacular autumn foliage scene. The area is popular with many visitors for its spectacular views of the autumn foliage and Niseko Annupuri.

The Horoman River flows into the Pacific Ocean from its source in the Hidaka Mountains. About 8 km of the middle and lower reaches of the river is a natural canyon that runs along the eastern side of the Apoi Mountains, and is called Horomakyo. The canyon is formed by peridotite rocks, and perhaps because of this, the stream is uniformly azure, creating a beautiful landscape with the mountain surface of mixed needle and broadleaf forests. It is said to be a famous spot for those in the know, especially in the fall when the autumn leaves are beautiful.

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